Though many programs would have killed to call the Citrus Bowl home, with more than 15 miles between the East Orlando school and its "home field," it wasn't long before the arrangement started to become cumbersome. In the early 1990s when the Knights began to look into moving up into Division I-A, the idea first was put on paper to have an on-campus stadium by 1999. While that timeline soon was pushed backed after that inaugural I-A season in 1996, discussions intensified

Those plans seemed to grind to a halt in 2002, when a feasibility study showed that an on-campus facility would cost $130 million -- well beyond UCF's financial means.

Enter Jerry Roth, a local pharmaceutical-company owner and avid football fan. Roth, who never attended UCF, got with then-athletic director Steve Orsini and suggested the idea of a more cost-efficient steel stadium. While the steel stadium definitely would be hotter than a traditional concrete structure and the bleacher-style not as fan friendly, with fewers chair backs, it reduced potential costs by half.

Roth also was one of the people who convinced others to back UCF President John Hitt's idea to use ticket sales and other revenue to allow the stadium to pay for itself over time.

With a new vision in hand, UCF's board of trustees approved the plan to build the stadium in November 2005, setting the cost of the project between $50 million and $60 million.

But there were a few hurdles -- mostly some unsure local residents -- to overcome before UCF turned up any dirt for it.

Trustees amended the campus plan to designate property just south of McCulloch Road for the project, despite objections by nearby residents who fear excessive noise, lights and traffic on game days.

Some opponents favored a stadium on the south end of campus, away from residential development. In a presentation before a November 2005 public hearing, university officials said that putting the stadium on the north end of campus, adjacent to planned retail space and the school's new alumni center, was the only feasible option.

"It makes sense to make it clear that -- subject to the right price -- we're going to do it," Hitt said at the time.

While that didn't appease all residents, the sticking point to move forward with the project was that officials had pledged that no public taxes or student tuition would be used to build the stadium. Instead, money would come from donors, ticket and concessions sales, corporate sponsorships and advertising.

With the protests addressed, UCF moved forward with its plan to build a 45,000-plus seat structure for more than $54 million. It cost roughly half of the original proposed $130 million estimates, with funds coming totally from sources outside the university.

UCF lost one of the financial minds behind the project when Orsini left to become SMU's athletic director in early 2006. The project was taken over by new UCF Athletic Director Keith Tribble and his staff. Tribble's team raised more than $32 million from donors and sold more than 24,000 season tickets -- the most in school history.

After selling stadium naming rights to Bright House Networks, the 360 Architecture-designed project broke ground in August 2006. It was supervised by Wharton-Smith Project Director Tom Murphy, an alumnus from the 1984 class.

The stadium is the centerpiece of a football facilities complex that also includes the only college indoor football practice facility in the state and a state-of-the-art football center. Tribble said UCF officials believe their facilities compare favorably with the best in Conference USA and in the state.

It is an opinion shared by C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky, who will be in attendance for Saturday's opener.

"It's about laying a foundation and commitment to success, and they are definitely doing that with this stadium. A brand new stadium, on-campus, they will be able to elevate the program. It's those kinds of things that help all 12 programs within the conference to start to move in one direction."

On April 17, the Orlando Sentinel photo team snapped a shot of UCF football coach George O'Leary reacting to a play at home plate during the annual players vs. coaches softball game. A variety of reader-submitted memes and PhotoShop efforts followed.